Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-04
COLORADO TRAIN ROBBERS.
A Rio Grande Express Held Up
Near Grand Junction.
DISTRACTIONS ON THE TRACK.
Five Masked Men Rife the Mail CaD'
but Fail to Get Anything
From the Express Com.
pany's Safe.
Another Train Held I'm.

GuNNIsoN, Colo, Nov. B. Special Telet
gram to the BEE. Tho east-bound Denvef
& Rio Grande train was held up by masked
robbers at 3 :45 this morning five miles east Of
Grand junction. AT the point where the
robbery occurred the road runs along the
Gunnison river and steep bank rises sons
200 feet above. As the train ran under the
bluff Engineer Maloy discovered distractions
ahead and whistled brakes. AS he slowed up
he saw five men on the track, and before he
could determine what was up the command,'
Get down out of thereln opened his eyes AS
to the situation Under the inspiring influ-'
encc of "gun" he and Fireman Slessinger
lost no time in stepping out Of
tho cab and were stood with hands
up under the bank. The next
move of the robbers was to place u man on
the opposite side of the mail and express car,
while the two remaining commenced pound<
ing on the mail car door demanding admis..
sion. Mail Agent Grubb, who had dropped
asleep after leaving Grand junction, suppose
ing the train was at station, jumped up and
opened the door. He was confronted with
the guns of the robbers, who demanded that
he throw up his hands, which he did and was
escorted to where the engineer and fireman.
were standing. The robbers then returned
letters and packages and moved on the ex-
press car. Messenger Williams, who had
been aroused, had blown out the light and
barred both doors. To their demands to
'open the door," he replied: "Go around to
the other side. The trunks are piled up on
this side"
"Move the trunks, and be quick about it,"
they replied
Pretending to comply he went to rolling
boxes and trunks around the car, ali the
time trying to get sight of the fellows to see
how many there wcre and the chance of sue
cessful defense. Not being able in the dark
ness to determine the number, and knowing,
there was no express matter of value which
they could get, he concluded to open the
door After doing so the robbers jumped in
and ordered him to open the safe. He told.
them he could not do that as he did not know
the combination. Not believing him they
put revolver to his head and gave him
the ultimatum of opening the safe
in two minutes or die. He told them that
the safe was strong one and the combina-
tion known only to the agents at the main
office. The fellow with the revolver mt the
head of the messenger wanted to shoot, but
his accOmplicc prevented him. They then
discussed blowing open the safe, which in
fact contained large amount of money. but
concluded it would take too long and would
lift the Car.
They then discussed the advsability Of
going through the passenger cars, but con-
cluded not to do so, fearing resistance from
the passengers, some Of whom had started to-
wards the front end of the train to ascertain
the cause of the delay. These were turned
back by several shots from the robbers. Tho
express messenger and mail agent were then
ordered into cars, and taking the engineer
and fireman to the engine, the robbers them-
selves removed the obstruction from the
track, bade good night to Maloy and Slessin-
ger, and struck out into the mountains. The
train then resumed the journey east, after
delay of something over an hour. ,
When the train stopped, Conductor Cook
started brakeman back to Grand Junction
to give the alarm, and on arriving at Bridge
port he wired the news both ways. Officers
are in pursuit of the robbers. The amount Oh
money taken from the mail is not known.